Message from the Chair

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University is pleased that you have shown an interest in our graduate program. Through this educational program, the department prepares students to begin a career related to studying the biological actions of chemicals. Our goal in this process is to provide students the necessary skills and background to become independent research scientists. Recognizing that many alternative careers also exist for graduates, we strive to provide a breadth of exposure and direction that permits students to contribute effectively and successfully in many other types of employment opportunities.

Modern research in the pharmacological sciences involves the application of experimental technologies brought from a variety of different disciplines including biophysics, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology and clinical medicine to develop a better understanding of drug action and physiological function. The faculty of the department has diverse backgrounds and is actively involved in research in the broad areas of: cardiovascular pharmacology, neuropharmacology, pulmonary pharmacology and behavioral pharmacology. We believe that the training opportunities that exist in the department provide an integrative exposure to the disciplines of pharmacology and toxicology that enable graduates to be successful.

I would encourage you to examine the information provided about the institution, the department, the students and our faculty. I hope that your tour will also enable you to gain a perspective on the enthusiasm that we have toward biomedical research and the excitement we feel about participating in a discipline that exists at the interface between basic and clinical science. If your tour sparks the same level of interest, please be encouraged to inquire further about the opportunities for training in the department.